§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWe understand that the First Lord of the Admiralty in another place is going to make some further statement with regard to an incident which has been much talked about during the last few days. I rise to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, if that statement is going to embody any information which was not put by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in possession of the House on Friday last, he will on the present occasion supplement his then statement so as to give us all the information which is about to be given in another place.
§ The following Questions were on the Paper on the same subject.
1135§ MR. H. C. LEATo ask the Prime Minister whether the German Emperor has recently addressed a letter to the First Lord of the Admiralty, in which he attempts to influence in German interests the Minister responsible for the Naval Estimates of this Country; whether such a letter has been received; and, if so, whether it is authentic, and whether a reply to it has been dispatched; and, having in view the number of persons to whom this letter has been shown and the interest it has to the country at large that under the circumstance full publicity should be given to the matter, will he consent to lay the whole of the Correspondence upon the Table and explain fully the circumstances and facts connected with this proceeding.
§ MR. RIDSDALE (Brighton)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether a letter has or letters have passed between H.I.M. the Emperor of Germany and the First Lord of the Admiralty dealing with matters of British naval policy; and, if so, whether, in view of the misconstruction to which such an incident is liable, he will make the correspondence public.
COLONEL LOCKOOD (Essex, Epping)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Majesty the German Emperor has recently addressed a letter to the First Lord of the Admiralty on the subject of British and German naval policy; and, as such a letter, if written, would refer to matters that have formed the subject of debate in the House of Commons, whether he will lay the letter before Parliment without delay.
§ MR. ASQUITHI think that is a most reasonable and proper request. In answering the right hon. Gentleman I shall answer also the Questions on the Paper. First of all, I would refer the hon. Members who put those Questions to the statement I made on Friday, to which I have nothing to add, and to which, so far as I know, my noble friend will add nothing, except this, that Lord Tweedmouth, immediately on receipt of the Emperor's letter and before replying to it, showed it to my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who agreed with him that it had no official character and should be treated as a private communication. It is clearly out of the question to lay upon the Table private and personal correspondence.
§ COLONEL LOCKWOODThe only question I wish to put to the Chancellor of the Exchequer is if he considers that a communication on so highly important a question and between the German Emperor and the First Lord of the British Admiralty can possibly be looked upon after publication as in any way "private"?
§ MR. ASQUITHYes, Sir I do consider it so. I see nothing in that to> modify or to qualify in any way the answer I have given.
§ COLONEL LOCKWOODWill the Chancellor of the Exchequer give us art opportunity of discussing the conduct of the First Lord of the Admiralty in this matter?
§ [No Answer was returned.]